Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Ethiopia: British Nationals Abroad

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what he has had with his Ethiopian counterpart on the safety of UK nationals in Tigray.

James Duddridge: The Foreign Secretary spoke with Prime Minister Abiy on 10 November and called for the immediate de-escalation of violence, for the protection of civilians and for unfettered humanitarian access. He reiterated these messages when he met Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke on 25 November and made clear the need for the restoration of basic services in Tigray. I also stressed these points when I spoke with the Ethiopian Ambassador in London on 18 November, as well as in my tweets of 9 December and 24 November.The British Embassy Addis Ababa has supported a number of British Nationals to leave Tigray. We are aware of 13 British people who left the Tigray area in convoys organised by the United Nations. We believe there to be 31 people remaining in Tigray with British nationality.

Ethiopia: Armed Conflict

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Ethiopian counterpart on preventing civil war in that country.

James Duddridge: The Foreign Secretary spoke with Prime Minister Abiy on 10 November and called for the immediate de-escalation of violence, for the protection of civilians and for unfettered humanitarian access. He reiterated these messages when he met Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke on 25 November and made clear that all parties to the conflict need to want to find a political solution. I also stressed these points when I spoke with the Ethiopian Minister of Finance on 16 November and the Ethiopian Ambassador in London on 18 November, as well as in my tweets of 9 December and 24 November. Our Ambassador in Addis Ababa continues to engage the Government of Ethiopia in support of these objectives.